In Shantou, the central city of Eastern Guangdong known as the “Gateway to Lingdong and the Hub of South China,” stands a paper packaging and printing enterprise. Over three decades, it has rapidly evolved from a small family workshop into a nationally renowned large-scale cigarette packaging printer. This company is Shantou Dongfeng Printing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Dongfeng Co.”). Dongfeng Co.'s remarkable transformation stems from its unwavering commitment to exceptional quality and innovative technology, coupled with a market-driven spirit of continuous product optimization and equipment upgrades. Today, the company operates dozens of advanced printing machines from both domestic and international suppliers, while maintaining long-term, stable partnerships—one of which is with Beijing Zhenhengli Printing Machinery Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Zhenhengli”). Recently, building upon its existing fleet of four Zhenhengli single-cylinder gravure presses, Dongfeng Co. made a significant move by introducing one of Zhenhengli's latest upgraded single-cylinder gravure presses. To gain deeper insight into the background of this collaboration, our reporter interviewed Xie Mingyou, Technical Director of Dongfeng Co. Let us follow his perspective to explore the story behind this partnership.
Choosing Quality: Partnering with Zhenhengli
Reflecting on the background of Dongfeng's collaboration with Zhenhengli, Xie Mingyou recalled: "At the time, we faced a significant market shift—increasingly fierce competition. Customers sought to enhance the visual appeal of cigarette packaging while simultaneously shortening delivery times. However, achieving this proved challenging for packaging requiring special effects. Most such effects necessitated screen printing machines to apply specialty inks onto the packaging surface. Yet screen printing is susceptible to various factors, resulting in poor print stability and low production efficiency—failing to meet customers' demands for short delivery cycles." Consequently, finding printing equipment that could deliver special effects while boosting production efficiency became Dongfeng's top priority.
Meanwhile, Zhenhengli recognized this industry need and partnered with Shenzhen Bangyu Electromechanical Equipment Co., Ltd. (hereafter “Shenzhen Bangyu”) to explore solutions using single-reverse gravure presses. “Single-revolver machines inherently possess mechanical configurations similar to screen printing presses. By modifying their light sources and specific structural components, and adjusting relevant parameters, they can meet special effect printing requirements. Moreover, single-revolver machines offer significantly higher printing speeds than screen printing presses. Therefore, appropriately modified single-revolver machines represent an excellent alternative to screen printing for achieving special effects,” " noted Shi Wenke, General Manager of Shenzhen Bangyu. Ultimately, through the joint efforts of Zhenhengli and Shenzhen Bangyu, a single-groove machine fully capable of meeting special effect printing demands was successfully launched into the market.
The modified single-groove machine incorporates Shenzhen Bangyu's UV curing system. Leveraging the machine's high ink capacity advantage, it not only accommodates most standard inks, varnishes, and spot colors but also achieves special effects like wrinkles, frosting, and matte finishes—similar to screen printing. Dongfeng Co., Ltd. soon reached a cooperation agreement with Zhenhengli. This partnership was facilitated not only by the equipment's outstanding performance but also by Zhenhengli's unwavering dedication and persistence in single-groove machine development, which deeply impressed Dongfeng. “Truthfully, there are numerous domestic single-revolving cylinder printing press manufacturers. Yet, faced with an unfavorable market landscape, few companies have held their ground. Zhenhengli not only persevered but accelerated its development pace, leveraging years of accumulated expertise in this field. This has earned them an excellent reputation within the industry—a key reason we repeatedly chose Zhenhengli,” Xie Mingyou affirmed with high praise.
Mutually Beneficial, Moving Forward Together
Since Dongfeng Co., Ltd. introduced Zhenhengli's single-groove machines, the relationship between the two companies has grown increasingly close. On one hand, Dongfeng Co., Ltd. has extended olive branches to Zhenhengli; on the other, Zhenhengli has accelerated its innovation efforts, ensuring each piece of equipment introduced by Dongfeng Co., Ltd. possesses unique strengths. The latest Zhenhengli single-groove machine introduced by Dongfeng Co., Ltd. boasts two standout features: First, it incorporates Shenzhen Bangyu's patented water-cooled UV curing system, extending the curing tunnel length to 2.4 meters to maximize drying efficiency. Second, it allows for the installation of varying numbers of wrinkle lamps based on actual production needs. This not only achieves a wrinkle effect approaching screen printing but also ensures curing quality and speed requirements, thereby improving equipment utilization and yield rates.
Currently, Dongfeng Co., Ltd. is gradually phasing out its existing screen printing machines, replacing them with Zhenhengli single-depression machines that offer superior performance and efficiency. Xie Mingyou shared several reasons with reporters: "Using the same production process, the single-depression machine achieves 70% to 80% higher efficiency than screen printing machines, with speeds reaching approximately 6,000 sheets per hour. In terms of equipment stability, Zhenhengli single-groove machines have also seen significant improvements over previous models, allowing operators to master them with ease. Furthermore, Zhenhengli single-groove machines serve as a valuable supplement to our existing equipment. For instance, printing specific colors in offset printing or applying varnish can all be achieved on these single-groove machines."
Regarding Zhenhengli's after-sales service, Xie Mingyou praised it as “thorough, prompt, and efficient.” He explained that to ensure high-quality service, Zhenhengli established a dedicated after-sales service center in Shantou with resident technicians to guarantee timely equipment repairs and maintenance. Additionally, Zhenhengli provides customized on-site technical training for operators, dispatching engineers to cover single-groove machine principles, structure, and operational essentials. “This has been highly satisfactory,” Xie Mingyou remarked with evident satisfaction.
Cost remains the most sensitive topic for manufacturers. Xie explained: “Single-groove machines are compatible with most inks and varnishes. Replacing screen printing machines with single-groove machines requires no ink changes, thus incurring no additional costs in this regard. Although our newly introduced single-groove machine features a higher-power UV curing system, resulting in slightly increased energy costs, this expense is negligible compared to the machine's significantly higher production efficiency.”
Zhenhengli has maintained a close partnership with Dongfeng Co., Ltd. through its efficient, stable equipment performance and attentive, timely after-sales service. Today, Dongfeng's success in achieving specialized printing effects on cigarette packaging using single-groove machines has created a ripple effect within the industry, prompting other printing companies to begin similar trials. Xie Mingyou stated that Dongfeng will continue strengthening its partnership with Zhenhengli while also hoping the company will make further improvements in details such as UV energy leakage prevention and ink pump agitation functions. Success lies in persistence, and trust stems from quality. We firmly believe that with the dedicated support and high expectations of more customers, Zhenhengli will continue forging ahead!
